All Flesh Must Be Gnawed Upon

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Sam followed Adams gaze...and saw the officer raise his head, suddenly the officer leapt towards one of the others pinning and grappling with him...Sams mind was confused for a second, but then it cleared and he picked up the baton he had found and grabbing the officer by the jacket smacked him on the head...still he struggled so Sam hit him again...surely he should be unconcious but still he struggled...Sam gave up and just smacked the officer till he stopped moving, he felt a light splatter of blood as he swung the baton...

The officer who had been attacked kicked the body away quickly, staring in horror both at the dead man and Sam...he seemed unscathed, but his face was covered in blood, as was Sams...

In silence Sam moved carefully to the back of the van, and holding on tight to a rail with one hand he opened the back door and flung the body out, then he slammed it shut again and took his seat again...people stared at him...he retreated into himself...he'd just killed a man...

 

".....Jesus H Tapdancing Christ, lad. That was a bit... Much, wasn't it?"

In truth, it probably wasn't. Then again, Sam had pretty much painted the inside of the van, as well as most of it's occupants. Adam ripped the left sleeve of his shirt off, and wiped the blood off his face.

Looking up, he saw the stunned cop who had been sitting next to his former ally. Pointing at him, he uttered "You've got red on you..."

 

'Who was that?' Ed asked, tilting his head, but keeping his eyes on the road as he rounded a corner at sixty.

'Jones,' a somber officer replied.

'Jones?' Ed was horrified. Jones was a drinking buddy. He swerved to avoid a figure which lurched into the road, but clipped him with a wheel, sending it crashing into a wall.

'Ed? Ed, are you there?'

He flicked the radio up into his hand. 'Rose? What's up?'

'Get here soon. We're in serious trouble.'

'I'm five minutes away. Stay safe.'

 

Reg turned off the television in disgust, having just watched an item on the news about massive rioting downtown. "Damn youngsters up to no good again", he thought to himself.

Reg was in his late sixties, though still very fit and able. All those years on the force back in Ireland had paid off, dealing with countless drunkards and thieves. After his retirement, he and his wife Muriel had decided to move away ... a long way away.

The news item had said that all the pubs and late-night stores had been ordered to close for the night. So much for his walk down to the local pub for his usual. And there was no way Muriel was going to let him out with all that rioting supposedly going on nearby.

Still ... she hadn't seen the news; she said she'd gone for a lie down, complaining of a terrible stomach ache. Perhaps he could pretend that nothing was amiss and go down and see for himself what all the trouble was about.

"I'm just off out then, Muriel", he called up the stairs. There was no reply. She must have dozed off already.

He grabbed his coat and stepped out into the night.

 

Sgt Edward Tremaine swung the van round into the car park, and switched off the engine.

'Everyone into the station,' he shouted, pocketing the keys. he took his shotgun and shield, and headed inside.

The place was almost deserted. It seemed that few cops had made it back. He opened the door to the dispatch room, and laid his stuuf down on a desk.

'How many made it back, Rose?'

She jumped. 'Ed! You're alright?'

'I'm fine. How many made it back?'

'Here, about twenty. Over the entire city, there are maybe two hundred officers. Hundreds are missing, and there are many confirmed dead. The entire SWAT team was wiped out.'

Ed swore. 'So, what's going on? WHo's the ranking officer?'

'There's a Lt in one of the other stations, but here? No-one is, really. We're down to sergeants, and we can't determine who has seniority.'

Edward sighed, and dropped into a chair wearily.

'There's blood on your sleeve.'

He looked. So there was. 'It's not mine.'

She nodded, then turned away as the phone rang.
'Hello? Yes. This is dispatch. No sir, there's no senior officer. I see. Uh-huh. What? Of course, sir, I understand. yes, I'll relate the message.'

She placed the receiver down carefully, and dropped her head to the desk.

'Rose? What's wrong?'

'The city is being placed under quarantine. No-one is to be let out.'

'What?' Ed jumped to his feet. 'When?'

'In a little under an hour. We're ordered to remain behind, and enforce a curfew. Apparently, the infection has spread throughout the city, and it has been decided that it's too dangerous to let anyone out.'

'But none of the suburbs have reported cases yet?'

'I know. Still, we're to enforce a curfew,a nd shoot anyone suspected of being infected. They're sending a man from the Virus Control Centre to oversee the operation, and a squad of soldiers to help him enforce his decisions.'

Ed sat down again, and wheeled his chair over to Rose. 'What do we do?'

She looked up at him. 'We do what we're told to do, as always. Ours not to reason why. So, we should tell the others.'

 

The more he walked, the more Reg noticed how still and silent everything was. No vehicles had driven past him since he had left the house and he was used to spotting the odd person he knew out walking their dog or on their way home.

Reg began to feel guilty. His wife had been ill and gone to bed early, and the most sympathy he had shown was complaining about all the rubbish on television and then sneaking out just to be nosey.

He stopped and looked around him. Still no sign of anyone or anything. He hesitated for a second, wondering if perhaps he should just go home.

Suddenly, a large van roared out of the night, flew past him and screeched into the car park of the police station, which Reg had been walking past at that moment. Within seconds a group of people was walking up to the entrance, several of them looking badly injured.

Reg didn't need any further persuasion. Looking both ways unnecessarily, he crossed and walked up to the entrance of the police station.

 

Sam climbed out of the back of the van, glad to feel solid ground beneath his feet again.

"Everyone into the Station" shouted the officer. Sam followed him to the office where a handful of other officers sat around muttering to themselves. There was a young cop sat at one of the desks, he was deathly pale and seemed to be repeating something to himself and shaking his head...

Sam moved closer, and began to pick out the muttered phrases.

"I...I shot him...I shot him and he just got up again...but...but it went through his chest...what are they?..I shot him..." he continued this repetative narrative to himself. This was not the first time Sam had seen this sort of thing, it happened sometimes to people in high stress situations, the kid needed a distraction...

"Hey kid whats your name?"

"But I..." The kid stopped and looked towards Sam "PC Williams"

"How long you been with the force?"

"Six months now..." The kid started to blank again, Sam had to keep his mind away from what had happened.

"Tell you what, I could use a drink, would you mind getting me one, I don't know where anything is around here...hell these guys all look a bit nackered how about you go find some refreshments eh...I'm sure they'd appreciate it."

The kid looked away "Yeah....yeah your right...refreshments...thats what we need...I'll get right on it" He jumped up and ran off out of one of the side doors.

That should keep his mind off things for a bit thought Sam...He looked towards where the officer who had driven them here stood talking in hushed tones to a female officer, suddenly the phone rang and the lady answered it...her face changed from a lok of shock to utter horror, whatever she knew it couldn't be good...

 

Ed left the dispatch office, and found the remnants of the station, plus a few people rescued from the riot.

'As of 6om this night, the city is being placed under quarantine. Soldiers will surround the city, and have been ordered to shoot anyone tryign to leave on sight. I am required to inform you that a curfew is also being placed on the city, and it will be kept by members of teh police force. Unofficially, I'm instructing you to arm yourselves, and find somewhere to hole up till this is over. This station will be manned by armed members of the force, and we'll welcome anyone willing to help us defend the place.'

 

For a moment Reg stood just inside the door to the police station considering his situation. After a minute or two, a young officer approached him and touched him on the shoulder, breaking him out of his thoughts. "You need to go home, sir. Do you live far away? Can I escort you anywhere?"

Reg looked at her for a moment, then shook his head and left. He didn't need telling twice. He may have been more able than most his age, but he was an old man, surely far too old to be aiding in defending the city.

He walked home slowly, thinking to himself all the way. Just what exactly was it the city was supposed to be being defended against? Why was there a curfew in place? And most importantly, why had the entire city been placed under quarantine?

Cursing himself for not finding out more when he'd had the opportunity, he considered going back to the police station. No, Muriel was still at home and she would be wondering what had become of him. She needed to know what the situation was. He knew his only way of finding out was to go home and turn on the TV. The event would definitely be in the news.

At last he turned the last corner into his own street and drew nearer to his house. Just as he was about to walk up the short path that led to his front door, he noticed an unfamiliar light shining on the stony ground. He looked up and his heart skipped a beat as he saw his front door hanging off a single hinge, the wood smashed and broken.

 

Adam tried to take in what the young cop was saying. A qaurantine? The world had forsaken them. They were stuck here, in a city full of those... Things.

Not only that, but being told to "Arm themselves"... They were supposed to go and fight? Adam was no warrior. He'd seen off his fair share of stumbling violent drunks in his 16 years of running the pub of course, but if they bit you, nothing bad happened. This was bad.

"So, uh..." Adam suddenly realised he had no idea of the officers name. "You, kid... Where can I get a weapon? As well as some decent damn bandages!"

 

A Quarentine?...Sam began to wish he hadn't taken his leave, at least that way he'd be out side the city and he'd have some protection. That thought jogged his mind back to what the officer had said, "we'll welcome anyone willing to help us defend the place"...with that he bagan to approach the officer, he arrived just after the guy with the pool cue, he decided to wait till the officer had dealt with him before offering to help since it would probably help the officer to know who he was...

 

Ed wondered blearily for a moment about calling a man with a shotgun "kid", before turning round.

'Yes, sir? A weapon? Well, do you know how to use a firearm? As for bandages, there was a first aid kit in the van. Didn't that help?'

He turned away before he noticed anotehr man waiting to speak to him.
'How can I help you, sir?'

 

Sam watched as the pool cue guy walked off, and stepped towards the officer.

"How can I help you, sir?"

"I'd like to help out if I can, my name is Sam and I'm a seargent in the army, I am currently on leave so was at home when this all kicked off...Also if you could tell me exactly what it is we're dealing with I'd appreciate it." He finished and awaited a reply...

 

A banging came on my door, that really pissed me off. The sign said closed, I told them to bugger off, but I seemed to make them angrier. The door was shaking now, and the door had a couple seconds, before it turned to kindling. That is it, I reached for Maggie and felt her cold weigth in my hand, I aimed for the door, and pulled her trigger. Maggie didn't let me down, the bullet smashed throught the door and contacted with something soft on the other side. But, still the bastard banged. I held up Maggie again, but the door gave way, and until that moment I wasn't scared of anything. The damsel who came in, would've been very screwable, but the lack an arm and a bullet hole in between those very fine breasts. She stumbled towards me, well she was in my office and I'll put her out of her misery. Maggie, actualy did it, I'm to soft to kill someone, Maggie is all steel. The dame went down, and she went down for good. I got up off the couch, and put on my pants before the blood got to 'em.

I heard someone else come up the stairs. And judging by the steps, it was not his neighbour. I stepped out into the hall and looked down the stairwell. Ironicaly, it was my neighbour, but he had quite the gash on his neck.

"You all right mate?" I asked.

"Urrghh?"

I still wasn't sure, the man didn't have much of a vocabulary. "Oh, umm.. odd question, but you wouldn't happen to be dead, would you?"

"Arrrgh!"

"Fair enough." Again, Maggie was the brave one and visited his head.

"What an interresting day." I commented, as I went off to find soem Scotch, I find I always think clearer when inebrieated.

Making sure I stepped over my ex-neighbour, I made it outside. There were some drunks, stumbling about. One was jumped by some punk, I ran over to the drunks rescue.

"Oi! Let 'im go!"

"You don't understand, he's a z...." I shut him up with a swift punch. I helped the poor sod up, oddly he tried to kiss my hand, but I wasn't up for it. I gave him a pat on the back, but he seemed a little unsteady and fell over. Then I remembered.

"Um.. are you dead?"

The poor sod was passed out. But I couldn't take the risk, I let Maggie do the work again, but I took his wallet. I forgot about the punk, and helped him up. He stumbled out in to the road.

"OH my lord!" Was all I could say, when a police van gave him the clip. "Even the police can't drive anymore, probably a woman." The punk was dead, too bad, I don't think he was dead.

 

Reg sat in an armchair in his living room thinking. Muriel was gone. She must have been kidnapped - or worse - by whoever had ransacked the place. The house was a wreck; the desk with Reg's laptop had been upturned; something had shredded the sofa; and the bedroom door looked like it had been broken down. Something about the latter played at the back of his mind, bothering him more than the rest, but he couldn't work out why.

Quite suddenly, as though ordered to, he stood up. He had made up his mind. There was no explanation except that the rioters must have broken into his home and kidnapped his wife. The only way he might ever see her again was if the police could somehow put an end to the rioting.

Curfew or no curfew, he was going back to the police station, where he would report Muriel's disappearance and offer his assistance in holding off the rioters.

Before he left, Reg went through the back door and out to the shed, where he picked up his old, large gardening fork. The officer had said for everyone to arm themselves ... this should do nicely! Holding the fork with both hands, he marched out of the front door and back to the police station.

 

Kyle was waiting upstairs for the editing crew to finish up the scenes when he glanced out the window and saw six sombre ladies, slowly moving eastward, down the street. They were in a right horrible state, and Kyle rushed out the door to their aid.

"Oi! Ladies! Are you okay?" Kyle asked them warily.

The last lady slowly turned her head. Kyle fell back in horror as he noticed that one side of her face was totally gone. "Bloody hell! What the flip is this?!" The lady moaned and seemed to get the attention of the others. Lady 1-5 whipped around, each of them in various states of undead.

Kyle's world seemed to slow down at the sight of them, thinking, "What is going on here? Are these more actors?!" The ladies suddenly bolted for him, arms outstretched. Kyle scrambled to his feet and ran as fast as he could, towards the centre of town. Kyle was a bit ahead of the ladies, so he bent over and picked up a stick.

"Oi! Ladies! Come here and get me!" He swung the stick enthusiastically. His little followers did not slow, and ran straight on into him. As one came close, he shoved the stick straight into her eye socket. The other 5 stopped, and looked at their sister. Kyle uneasily took advantage of this oppurtunity and stepped back slowly.

"Uh, ladies, if you don't mind, I'll be leavi--" One lady growled at him, and he ran off like a little girl, screaming like one too.

 

'In the army? Why didn;t you say so before? Welcome aboard!' Ed shook the soldier's hand, before looking over to his fellow sergeant.

'Rose, can we get into the lock-up?'

She drew a key from her pocket, and tossed it to him. 'There you go.'

Ed caught it, and strode down the hall, motioning for Sam to follow him.

'Down here, is the SWAT lock-up. There should be some weapons left behind.'

 

Sam followed the down the corridor until they reached a small room with metal cupboards on all sides, the officer unlocked one of them and handed Sam an assault rifle and a 3 clips...an M4 carbine, that should do nicely.

"Thanks, this should do nicely, I'll go check the front door is secure...don't want just anybody strolling in" said Sam as he slammed a clip into the gun. He turned to leave the room...

 

Adam dragged himself to a first aid box on the wall and ripped it open. Bandages! He grabbed them and undid the temporary dressing from the van. With a little help from another survivor, he tied the bandages around his arm. When he sat back down, he noticed the young cop was missing.

Adam waited for a minute or two, then decided to go looking for Ed. He turned to go around a corner, but stood back as a well built man walked by. The man's build wasn't why he was standing back though, it was more about the assault rifle he was carrying. Behind him was Ed.

"Um... Cop? Ed, is it? Can I get a gun or something?"

 

Reg stepped back through the entrance to the police station. As he did so, he thought to himself how strange it was that he had never set foot inside this building in all the time he'd lived there, yet this was his second visit today. Today, things had definitely changed.

He looked around for someone who could give him more information. He noticed. at one end of the room. a police officer conversing with a man with a bandage around his arm. Even if the officer couldn't help him, the injured man had clearly been in the thick of things and would know what was going on. He walked over to them...